Clothes-washing apparatus



June 5, 1928. 1,672,814

M. F. .KETTLER CLOTHES WASHING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 27, 1926 avweuto'c M- f'. Reiler.

Patented June 5 1928.

MARTIN I". KETTLER, 0F HOUSTON, TEXAS,

PATENT OFFICE.

"PANY, 0F HOUSTQNQTEXAS, A. CORPORATION OF TEXAS.

cno'rnnswasfiine mamas.

Application flledyianila ry 27, 1926. Serial No. 84,178. T

y This invention relates to improvements apparatus for washing clothes and has, as

I without the expenditure of labor ordinarily involved in performing this task. a

The washing apparatus embodyingthe invention is of that type in which boiling water is caused to circulate through a the clothes to-be washed, and another object of the invention is toso construct the apparatus as, to rovidc for a more thorough circulation o the water than is eifectedby ordinary washing apparatuses of this class.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the apparatus that, in the operation thereof, fine streams ofhot water will be directed onto the clothes arranged within the apparatus so as to effect-a thorough cleaning of the clothes. a I y Another object of the invention istopro vide novel means for so supportin I the clothes to be washed that there will e no likelihood of searching of the, clothesfin the event the water level in the ap aratus is, through carelessness, permitted to ,ecome low. f. 111

Another object of theinvention isto so construct the component parts ofthefappa ratus that they may allbe separated, thereby permitting of a thorough cleansing of the said parts to prevent the accumulation of dirt and rusting thereof, although the apparatus will preferably be formed of metal which will not rust, y I

Anothercobject. of the invention isto so construct the apparatus that the watertherein will be boiled in a more or less confined space from which it will be discharged and circulate through theclothes within the apparatus, so that there will be afor'oeful circulation of the boilingwater through the clothes and a more thorough cleansing of the clothes will be effected.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical diametric sectional view through the appartaus embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective base 9 of the water view of the delivery spout or head of the water column of the ap aratus.

The apparatus embodying the invention comprises a container 1 which is preferably of gradually increasing diameter from its bottom to itstop, the closed bottom of the container being indicated by the numeral 2 andthe said container at its bottom being preferably of copper and interiorly tinned. The container 1 is provided with-a removable cover 3 having a depending flange 4; to

fit within the open top of the container and an outstanding flange 5 to rest upon the up per edge of the wall of the container, and a handle 6of wood orother material of a more or less heat non-conducting character is secured centrally to the cover 3 by a bolt 7 and isspaced from the cover by aspacing sleeve 8 arranged upon the said bolt.

Arranged within the container 1 is the base 9 of a water trap which isindicated in general by the numerallO, and this base is of shallow conical form and is providedat its lower edge with a rounded and downwardly extending circumferential flan e 11 formed with a number of recesses whic are indicated by thenurneral 12, the said lower edge of the flange resting upon the bottom 2 of the container and the base '9 being of a diameterto substantially snuglyfit within the lower end of the said container. The

p trapis providedcentrally with an upstanding upwardly tapered neck 13, and fitted and secured to the said neck is a vertically extending upwardl tapered water column or spout 14 exten ing centrally of the interior of the container and to a point somewhatabove the open top thereof, the cover 3 of the container being of dome-like formation so as to accommodate the upper end of said column 14. At its upper end, the columnl i is provided with a sprayer head indicated in general by the numeral 15, and of inverted frusto-c0nical form, the circumferential wall of the said sprayer head being indicated by the numeral 16 and being formed with a number of small perforations indicated by the numeral 17. The top of the head is indicated by the numeral 18 and formed centrally with an inverted conical depression 19 the wall of which is concentric to the wall Assmnon 'ro'iinsmc wnsmm comthe perforations 17 extend throu hout the entire area of the wall 16. The epression 19 constitutes a bafile which opposes the perforated wall 16 of the sprayer head and it will be evident that the boiling water and 'steam generated within the trap and rising through the column 14, will be forcibly discharged through the perforations 17 and sprayed outwardly and downwardl upon the clothes which are arranged wit in the container 1 and about the said column 14.

In order that the Water trap 10 may be retained in position resting upon the hottom of the container 1, it being understood that the boiling water within the trap would at the lower edge of its flan e 11 upon the 2 o the container, is rotated a short e notches 21 out of upper side of the bottom whereupon the said trapl distance so as to bring t engagement with the said ribs 20, and at this time the lower ends of the ribs will substantially engage the upper-side of the periph eral portion of the trap.

In order that the clothes to be washed may be sup orted in position spaced from the base 9 of the water trap 10 and likewise sufiiciently elevated above the bottom 2 of the container lto avoid any ossibility of scorching of the clothes shou d the water level be permitted to considerably lower through carelessness, a circular sheet metal false bottom 22 is arranged within the container with its periphery resting upon the ends of the ribs 20 and with the wall of an opening 23 formed centrally therein, engaging about the neck 13 ofthe water trap. The perforations in this plate are indicated by the numeral 24 and are distributed over the entire area of the plate.

A draw-off faucet or valve 25 is secured in the wall of the container at a point substantially intermediate the bottom 2 and the false bottom 22, and constitutes a means whereby the container may be drained after the clothes have been cleansed therein.

Fromthe foregoing description of the invention it will be evident that water within the base 9 of the water trap 10 will be caused to boil when the a paratus is disposed above a flame and that eing under ressure, due to expansion, will be caused to issue through the recesses 12 and'fiow upwardly through the perforations 24 in the false bottom 22 and through the clothes which are arranged within the container upon the said false bottom and about the column 14. Likewise, boilin water will ascend within the column 14 an be forcibly delivered in fine streams through the perforations 17 in the sprayer head 15, which streams will be directed downwardly and outwardly upon the clothes to effect a t orough cleansing thereof. Likewise, it will be evidentthat a volume of steam will be generated which will be discharged through the said perforations, so that the clothes will be subjected to the cleansing action of the steam as well as the hot water.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1' A clothes washer comprising a container, a water trap in said container and including a substantially conical base having its peri heral portion resting upon the bottom of t e container and formed withinlets and its upper end formed with an upstanding outletneck a tubular column having its lower end fitted upon saidneck, a sprayer head at the upper end of said column, inner ribs formed verticall upon the lower portion of the walls of said container and spaced from its bottom, the peripheral portion of said base having recesses formed therein whereb the base may be moved downwardly below t e ribs and turned to dispose the ribs above portions of the base to lock the base in place, and a false bottom removably received in said container having its marginal portions resting upon the upper ends of said ribs and its central portion formed with an opening snugly receiving said neck below the lower end of said column and resting upon the base.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

MARTIN F. KETTLER. [n s.] 

